This part of the forest is almost eerie. The stark black trunked trees painted with a frost that makes them silvery in the pale light. From their naked branches crystalline icicles and frozen water droplets hang like strange glass leaves, the toothed wind slicing through the twigs with a haunting whisper. There is no snow here, only frost and ice. The ground is rock hard underfoot and cold, frozen solid. Nothing seems to live hereand all is silent but for the winds soft whine. Beyond the ice-forest you can see a mountain range, a few clumps of trees high above the snowline, their leaves a speckling of pale green against the white and grey of the mountain side. A small flash of colour near the ground catches your attention and, despite the cold, you kneel to have a closer look. Bravely jutting out from the stony ground is a tiny briar bush. It's leaves spring green and it's small flowers like delicate snowflakes. How it could survive in such a harsh place you can't imagine until you put a hand near it. There seems to be a small pocket of warm air around it. Most strange! As you straighten from examining the small plant you realise you are no longer alone!
"Hullo" He barks cheerfully, bounding to his feet. "It's nice to see someone passing through. It's usually so quiet here!" He snuffs the air and you notice, bemusedly, that not only has he green striped markings on his face but also on his... he has wings! He grins at your expression and opens his burnt umber wings, stretching them out to show off the impressive length of the primary feathers. "Most of my species have wings, I'm a Bryar wolf." He lowers his head to show the thick, ivory coloured prong-horns that grow from behind his ears. "I decided to come here and live in the Tir after the Grimmorph keeper told me there were no Bryars here." He grins and wags his tail, aware that he is bragging. "A place as big and varied as this needs at least one Bryar wolf to keep everything running smoothly!" His grin widens. "Not that Tanami agrees when I try to help." He huffs happily, his breath a plume of condensation. "I better go! You'd better keep moving before you freeze. I don't think your coat is as thick as mine." With that he goes bounding off into the stark trees leaving you to decide which way you want to go. From here you can go back down into the warmer lands. |
A strange, wolf like creature crouches near you watching with interest, his thick brown and white coat obviously cuts the cold for he seems quite comfortable in the frigid temperatures here.